Luxury Retreats in Italy – The Ultimate List

But avid globetrotters seeking the ultimate luxury retreats are pickier than ever. A great massage can be purchased on every second corner, and aromatic oils and a back rub can only do so much to stimulate senses

Discerning travelers want to immerse themselves at a local’s kitchen table, in underground art collections, and nearby the gentle ring of Sunday morning church bells. To retreat is to escape the everyday, and where better than to one of Italy’s exclusive gems. Consider these authentic luxury Italian tours.

1.     Bressanone: The Exclusive Charming Maso

If exclusivity is the key, this secluded spot in the heart of the Prince-Bishops of Breassanone is reserved for just 10 guests at a time. Guests can explore South Tyrol wineries, the historic Floronzo Mill, savour home-cooked fare in a private mountain hut, or chop wood with Lodge owner Stefano in the soul-stirring surrounds of the mountains.

2.     Milan: The Lombardy Jewel

The world’s fashion capital offers unsurprisingly stylish luxury retreats. For a spa treatment with a difference lay back in a sauna set in an historical tramway coach. Indulge in chocolate tasting with a maître chocolatier from the gorgeous terrace of Branca tower. Take a tour of a luxury watch laboratory, where while learning the secrets of production, guests can immerse themselves in the intricacies of time-keeping while free from watching their own.

3.    The Dolomites: Conquering the Summit

In this idyll for the soul, visitors can horseback ride through the mountains in summer, or experience the magic of night skiing in winter, and between excursions feast in one of Europe’s oldest taverns.

4.    Verona: The Charm of Myth

Enjoy the fair beauty of Shakespeare’s most famous setting. While soaking in Sirmione’s thermal baths or sailing on Lake Garda, Verona will quickly become an obvious choice to set the world’s greatest Romance, Romeo & Juliet.

5.    Siena: Soul and Character

For gourmet luxury retreats nowhere outdoes Tuscany.  Gourmets can sample crusty artisan bread in a traditional bakery, sample wines and culinary delights in a farmhouse complete with a stargazing observatory. Visit a goat farm for a cheese tasting, a saffron farm, a pure-bred Cinta pig farm, and grappa distillery for an exclusive window into the craft.

6.   Florence: Charme and Elegance

For relaxation steeped in history the Montecatini Terme garden-city is a must-see. This antique thermal complex has been calming the nerves of the occasionally hot-headed Italians since the Roman Empire. For further indulgence, tour the gelato parlours, taking in the history of ice-cream production while sampling a whole lot.

7.   Padua & Treviso: Venetian splendors

For those looking to immerse themselves in a spa sanctuary the Terme Eaganee is a heavenly luxury retreats solution.  Guests can boat along the rivers and canals of Padua while sipping on the region’s popular Prosecco. Or perhaps choose to explore the Villa dei Vescovi, once the summer residence of Padua’s bishops, and today a marvellous showcase of Roman architecture.

From airport transfers to tailor-made tours, Charme & Adventure takes an holistic approach to luxury Italian tours. They aim to share authentic and unique experiences. Whether an experience requires a sommelier, art historian, haute couture stylist, goat’s cheese-maker or world renowned chef, Charme & Adventure  get travelers to the right locals, be it by private helicopter, vintage Vespa or hot air balloon.